Animal trap



, M. R. cLovER ANIMAL TRAP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July l0, 1959 MQ R. cLovER Mayv 14, 1940.

ANIMAL TRAP Filed July 1o, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v'Patented May 14, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE ANIMAL TRAP Melvin R. Clover, Ventura, Calif.

Application `luly 10, 1939, Serial No. 283,609

4 Claims.

This invention relates to animal traps, and has as a general object to provide a trap that will hold a trapped animal securely without maiming or torturing it.

Another object is to provide a trap of the type employing a noose, which is particularly free from fouling and is reliable in operation.

Still another object is to provide a trap that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description to follow, of a particular embodiment of the invention, when read in connection wit'h the drawings to which it refers.

This is a continuation in part of my cepending application Serial No. 184,479, filed January 1l, 1938, and entitled Animal trap.

In the drawings: y

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a trap in accordm ance with my invention, the trap being shown in set position;

Fig.` 2 is a plan view of the trap shown in set position;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View through the trigger plate and enclosing structure o-f the trap shown in set position;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the trap in sprung position;

Fig, 5 is a plan view, showing an alternative trigger plate construction; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the trigger plate shown in plan in Fig. 5.

Referring first to Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4, the trap therein depict'ed comprises as its main elements a hollow base or frame member I, an actuating spring 2, a trigger plate 3 and a noose element 4, which is shown as a chain inthe drawings but might be any other flexible lamentary element, such as a wire, cable or cord.

The spring element 2 may be formed of spring steel wire coiled at the center, as indicated at 5, to providey additional resilience, the two ends of the wire projecting from the coil 5 constituting a lower arm E and an upper arm l which normally tend to assume positions substantially at right angles to each other. As shown in Fig. 4, the arms extend at an angle somewhat less than 90 from each other b-ut'they are restrained from assuming full release position by the chain 4. The lower arm 6 is anchored at its outer end to the hollow frame member I. Thus the latter may be formed from a sheet metal stamp ing, the ends of which are bent to form a pair of juxtaposed flanges 3 between which the end of the arm 6 extends. The flanges S may then be secured to' each other and to the arm 6 by weld ing.

The base I preferably rests upon and is attached to a flat plate 25 of substantially larger diameter. Attachment may be effected by spot about the periphery of the base l, as indicated at 2t. The plate provides a large base, reducing the chances of the trap being overturned and also serves to close the lower end of the base I.

, When the trap is in set position, the arm 'l is forced down into substantially parallel relation to the arm ii and releasably secured in that position by a trigger mechanism including the trigger plate 3. Thus the trigger plate 3 may be attached on its under side to a triangular plate 9 which projects beyond the plate .l into the space between the two flanges 8. The plate il is mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane by a pivot pin lil which extends through the flanges 8. The portion of the plate 9 adjacent to and above the pivot pin I!! is cut away to define a keeper arm II which engages an eye or ring l2 formedin the outer end. of the spring arm 'I when the latter is in lower position and the triggerplate 3 is in upper position, all as clearly shown in Fig. 3. It will be obvious from Fig. 3 that if the trigger plate 3 is depressed to swing the plate 9 about the pivot .pin I0, the keeper arm II will release the end of the spring arm l, permitting it to be sprung upwardly away from the base l.

The upper edge of the base I is preferably bent inwardly to define an annular flange I3 of smaller internal diameter than the diameter of the trigger plate 3 so that it is impossible for an animal to pass its foot into the base member past the edge of the plate 3.

The chain li is permanently secured at one end to the upper spring armi, attachment being effected in the particular model shown by means of a bracket I4. From the bracket I Il the chain extends through a ring or eyelet I5 secured to the flanges 8 of the base member and thence through the eye I2 in the end of the upper spring arm l. The opposite end of the chain d has permanently attached thereto a ring I which constitutes the loop through which the chain-is extended to form the noose.

The trap as described is operated as follows: To set the trap the upper arm 'i is depressed into parallel relation with the lower arm 6 and secured in that position by lifting the trigger plate 3 to cause the keeper arm II to engage the eye I2 formed in the end of arm 1. 'I'he friction between the eye I2 and the arm II is sufficient to retain the plate 3 in upper position.

Next the chain is drawn through the ring I6 to form a noose therein, which noose is looped around the base I. The chain 4 is preferably of such length that the noose fits snugly about the base I at a point between the upper and lower edges thereof.

Assuming that the trap is set in the runway oi an animal, and that the animal steps 0n the trigger plate 3, the latter is depressed, displacing the keeper arm II out of holding relation with the eye I2, whereupon the arm 'I snaps away from the arm 6. In moving upwardly, the ring I2 carries the chain 4 with it, tending to lift the ring I6 and at the same time drawing the chain through the ring I6 in a direction to contract the noose. This latter effect results from the fact that the chain is extended through the ring I5 which is anchored to the base. (This is clearly apparent from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 4.2 The upward movement of the noose and its simultaneous contraction, carries it off the sloping sides of the base I and tightens it about the leg of the animal, since the ioot 0f the animal is at the time resting upon the trigger plate 3. The contracting motion of the noose continues until it is engaged rmly about the leg of the animal, as shown in Fig. 4, the leg being indicated at Il.

It will be observed from Fig. 4 that the eye I2 in the end of arm 'I bears against the ring I6 on the end of the chain 4, thereby eliminating any possibility' of the noose being loosened .because it maintains the chain taut at all times.

Of course if the animal pulls strongly on the noose, the chain Il may slip through the stationary ring I 5 and pull the arm 'I toward the arm 6, thereby vcarrying the eye I2 out of contact with the ring i6. However, this is immaterial, since the noose is inherently tightened about the leg of the animal whenever the chain 4 is in tension. The noose could only become loosened on the animals leg if the tension were removed from the chain i and this is impossible with my structure because the spring arms 6 and I separate immediately in response to any reduction in the pull by the animal to draw the chain through the eye I2 and maintain the noose tight.

It is to be understood that although I prefer to employ the base plate Z5, this plate is not absolutely essential, particularly when the length of the chain 4 is so chosen that the noose normally rests upon the sloping surface of the base member I, as shown in Figure 1. Furthermore, when the base 25 is provided as shown, the length of the chain d may be so proportioned that the noose is larger than the circumference of the base I and the noose rests upon the plate 25 instead of on the sloping side of the base I.

Lf, desired, the trap may be anchored as by an anchor chain I8 secured at one end to a ring I9 on the spring arm 6 and at the other end to a pin 20.

As shown in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4, the trigger plate 3 is rigid and is oi one piece construction.

A modied construction of trigger plate 3 is disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6, in which the plate is formed in two pieces 2?. and 23, respectively, which are hinged, together. Only one part 22 of the hinge is anchored to the pivot plate 9. However, the plate 23 is provided with a lip 24 adapted to engage the underside of plate 22 and limit downward swinging movement of the plate 23 without preventing upward movement thereof. With the plate construction of Figs. 5 and 6, downward pressure on either section of the plate is applied to the plate 9 to move the latter into tripped position. However it may sometimes occur that some obstacle may -be positioned below the outer portion of the trigger plate preventing downward movement thereof. Such an obstacle under the outer edge of the plate 3 of Fig. l might prevent downward movement of the plate 9 suiiicient to trip the trap. However, with the construction of Figs. 5 and 6, an animal stepping upon either plate 22 or 23 would trip the trap even though a rock or other obstacle prevented downward movement of the outer edge of plate .Z3 because the plate structure would bend along the hinge connection between the two sections, permitting the section 22 and the plate 9 to be depressed sufficiently to release the trap.

Although for the purpose of explaining my invention a particular embodiment thereof has been described in detail, it is to be understood that various changes can be made in the particular structure described without departing from the invention, which is to be limited only as dened in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An animal trap comprising a substantially fiat base member having a hollow boss rising therefrom, said boss being substantially smaller laterally than said base member, a noose adapted to encircle said boss, means for contracting said noose, including a spring adapted to be set, and a trigger for releasing the spring, said trigger being positioned in said boss.

2. An animal trap comprising a lament having a first eye attached to one end thereof, said eye being slidable along an intermediate portion of the iilament to form a noose, a second eye relatively slidable along said filament between the other end thereof and said first eye, means adapted to be tripped by an animal for drawing said filament through said second eye in response to tripping thereof, said first and second eyes being incapable of passing each other along said filament, whereby movement of said second eye along said lament forces said rst eye therealong to contract said noose.

3. An animal trap comprising a lamentary element, a first eye secured to one end of said lament and slidable therealong to denne a contractable noose, a second eye slidable on said element between said first eye and the other end of said element, means connecting said other end in fixed relation to said second eye, a third eye slidable on said element between said second eye and said other end of said element, spring means for separating said second and third eyes to draw said element through said rst eye to contract said noose, and trigger means for releasably restraining said spring means.

4. An animal trap comprising a cup-like shield having one edge resting upon the ground and open at its top, an inturned flange at its open upper edge, a treadle pivoted to the shield and positioned under the flange, a trip projecting from one edge of the treadle, a resilient member formed to provide a pair of arms, a coil spring joining said arms at one end, one of said arms being secured to the shield, an eye at the free end of the other arm and adapted to engage under the trip, and a exible member including a noose surrounding the shield and having one end anchored to one of the arms to contract the noose upon releasing of said other arm.

MELVIN R. CLOVER.

il fi 

